Courts

Politics

Appellate court clears way for former Cuomo lawyer’s lawsuit

Craig Herskowitz, now a candidate running against incumbent Republican Rep. Nick LaLota, is suing the state for both sex discrimination and retaliation.

Courts

Politics

Court of Appeals orders new round of redistricting before 2024 elections

The state Independent Redistricting Commission will get another chance to draw New York’s congressional districts.

Courts

Opinion

Opinion: A new congressional map in New York for 2024? A big ‘if’ and ‘when’

The state’s highest court heard arguments this week in a case that will determine whether the Independent Redistricting Commission can produce a new map of congressional districts.

Courts

Politics

To redistrict or not to redistrict – that is the question (again)

Democrats and Republicans made their cases before the Court of Appeals on the fate of the current congressional lines.

Courts

Policy

New York’s progressive chief judge joins with conservatives to expand DNA searches by law enforcement

In a 4-3 decision, Chief Judge Rowan Wilson ruled that the Commission on Forensic Science has the authority to allow law enforcement to search DNA databases to find partial DNA matches from relatives of potential suspects.

Ethics

Politics

Cuomo wins initial legal fight to unravel new ethics commission

A conservative judge handed former Gov. Andrew Cuomo an early win in his legal fight against the state’s new ethics commission, which investigated Cuomo’s pandemic-era book deal.

Politics

Politics

4 things to know about Breon Peace, the prosecutor charging Rep. George Santos

The U.S. attorney for the eastern district of New York is in the spotlight with this high-profile fraud case.

Policy

Policy

Public defenders tell legislators not to compromise on discovery reform

Dozens of public defender offices said that they were excluded from closed-door discussions about possible changes to the law.

Politics

Politics

Rowan Wilson confirmed as first Black chief judge of the Court of Appeals

The state Senate voted 40-19 to confirm Gov. Kathy Hochul’s most recent chief judge nominee.

Courts

Politics

Senate Judiciary Committee votes to advance Rowan Wilson

Members of the committee voted to advance Hochul’s latest nominee for a full Senate vote.

Policy

Policy

Hochul and legislative leaders consider changes to discovery reform, worrying public defenders

As state budget negotiations continue, state leaders are rumored to be considering relaxing requirements for prosecutors to turn over evidence quickly.

Opinion

Opinion

Opinion: New York must pass the Access to Representation Act for immigrants facing deportation

The legislation would ensure migrants have a right to a lawyer when appearing before an immigration court.

Policy

Policy

Class action suit filed against state correction department for violating solitary confinement laws

Lawyers accuse the department of not upholding the 2021 bill placing strict restrictions on the use of solitary confinement for incarcerated people.

Politics

Politics

Rowan Wilson picked to be chief judge, as Hochul eyes Caitlin Halligan for associate judge

Wilson, who would be the first Black chief judge in New York state, was tapped following the rejection of Hector LaSalle.

New York State

Politics

Brian Benjamin argues to keep the dropped corruption charges dropped

Lawyers for the former lieutenant governor filed a new brief on Friday making the case that democracy itself hangs in the balance.

New York State

Politics

Shelley Mayer will join state Judiciary Committee

The state senator is the second new committee member to have publicly announced that she would not vote to confirm Hector LaSalle as chief judge.

News & Politics

Politics

Latino politicians split on Hochul’s embattled chief judge pick

In a letter shared exclusively with City & State, more than 70 Latinx leaders explained their opposition to chief judge nominee Hector LaSalle.

Courts

Opinion

Opinion: How a court’s mission aligned with its response to Superstorm Sandy

The Red Hook Community Justice Center takes a holistic approach to overcoming challenges following Superstorm Sandy by increasing civic engagement and prioritizing social services.